Adjustable wind-grading sieve.



A. PETERSON.

ADJUSTABLE WIND GRADING slEvE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYSI. 1911-- Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

glwvenhw H. 1DETER50H .SJW

@NTT

STATES PATENT @FETCH ADJUSTABLE WIND-GRADING SIEVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Application filed May 31, 1917. Serial No. 172,058.

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR PETERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altamont, in the county of Deuel, State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Adjustable find-Grading Sieve; and I do hereby declare the following to loe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a grain grading attachment which embodies novel featuresr of construction whereby it can be readily applied to a conventional fanning mill, thereby converting the same into a wind graderv without impairing its usefulness as a mill for separating grain in the usual manner.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be readily applied to a fanning mill and will enable the heavy kernels of grain to be effectively separated from the lighter kernels and chaff by the air blast of the mill, which is adjustable so that the degree of separation can be varied to any extent desired, up to the point where all of the grain is blown over.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in Which:-V

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a fanning mill provided with a wind grading attachment constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view through the wind grading attachment removed from the mill.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the adjustable plate carrying frame, portions bcinv broken away.

"lf ig. 4 is a front elevation of one end of the dividing partition and the hanger, portions being broken away and shown in seca detail. perspective vien of one end of the spring locking strip for the adjustable plate.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

For the purpose of illustration the invention is shown as applied to a conventional fanning mill A, said mill including a fan blower 1, and being provided with the upper inclined sieves 2 and 3 and the lower sieve 1, the upper and lower sieves being reversely inclined and the upper sieves inclining downwardly7 toward the discharge end of the mill. In the operation of the mill the sieves 2 and 3 are agitated, and for this purpose they are shown as mounted upon a grapple 5 which is suspended by the hangers G. A suitable drawer or receptacle 7 for the inal collection of the heavy grain is arranged under the lower seive 4. This is all of the conventional construction, and no claim to novelty is based thereon.

The invention includes a frame 8 which is adapted to be secured in position within the mill immediately below the upper screen 3. This frame is provided with a stationary rear plate 9, and a sliding plate 10 which is adapted to extend beyond the forward edge of the stationary plate 9, the position of the sliding plate operating, as will be hereinafter described, to determine the degree to which the grain will be graded. The side edges of the plate 10 slide freely in grooves 11 formed in the sides of the frame, 8, while the forward and rear edges of the said plate arc curved downwardly to provide reinforcing flanges 12 which prevent buckling of the platc, said flanges being perforated at their middle portions to receive a guide supporting rod 13 which connects the ends of the frame 8. A spring locking strip 141 is secured to the lower face of the sliding plate 10, the ends thereof being bent outwardly and providing resilient arms which are notched at 1l to receive the guide rod 13 and have a binding engagement with the guide rod to hold the slide against accidental movement.

Hinge plates 15 are secured to the sides,

of the frame S at the front thereof, said plates being flanged at 15 for attachment to the frame, and being pendent therefrom. These plates have pivot openings 16 stamped therein., Said, pvot openings being Surround:

ed by an annular series of projections V17 which are pressed from the plate. A channel shaped hanger 1S is pende-nt from each of the hinge plates 15, the upper ends of the hangers being pivotally connected to the n.hinge plates by pivot bolts 19 and having projections 20 pressed therefrom which are adapted to interlock with the before inen- ,tioned projections 17 to hold the hangers rigidly in an adjusted position relative to the frame 8. Thumb nuts 21 are threaded upon the pivot bolts 19, and when these thumb nuts are loosened the hangers 1S can be swung into any desired position, although when the thumb nuts are tightened the hangers are locked against movement.

Y The lower ends of the two hangers 18 are connected bya transverse dividing partition 22 which is arranged under the forward edge of the sliding plate 10 and has a parallel relation thereto. An inclined guide plate 23 extends inwardly and downwardly from the bottom of the dividing partition 22, while a somewhat similar guide plate or fiange Q4 projects outwardly from the bottom or the dividing partition. This outer guide plate 24 is also inclined laterally toin a steady stream over the forward edge,

' of the sliding plate 10. This flowing stream of grain is acted upon by the air blast produced by the blower 1, said blast being directed outwardly toward the rear or discharge end of the mill, and serving to defleet the lighter kernels and chaff outwardly so that they will fall on the outside of the dividing partition 22, while the heavier kernels will fall on the inside of the dividing partition and be defiected into the mill by the inwardly inclined guide plate 23. The chaff and very light particles will be blown over the upper edge of the vertical wall 25 Vof the chute or trough at the outside of' the dividing partition 22, while the grain of an intermediate grade, namely, that which is sufficiently light in weight to be blown over the dividing partition Q2. but not of an excessive lightness so as to be blown over the upper edge of the vertical wall 25, will drop Vinto thetransverse chute and be deposited -upon the outer inclined plate 24.

The

`heavier kernels of grain will thus be deeeted back into theinill by the inclined" plate Q3, while the kernels ot' an intermediate weight will be collected in the transv verse chute, the verylight kernels and chad being blown over the top of the chute. The degree of separation can be varied by moving the sliding plate 10 in and out. When it is positioned at a point toward the outer limit of its movement only the very heavy kernels of grain will be retained in the mill, while as the plate is moved rearwardly the number of kernels carried back into the mill will be gradually increased, including kernels of a slightly lighter-weight as well as the heaviest kernels. 1t will thus be obvious that the degree of separation can be varied by adjusting the position of the sliding plate 10.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A grader including an elevated frame, an adjustable plate carried by the frame and having an edge portion over which the grain is caused to drop in a stream, a fan for producing a blast of air to act upon the stream of grain, a transverse dividing partition arranged under the plate andhaving a parallel relation to the edge thereof, and guide means for directing the grain falling upon opposite sides thereof, the degree of separation depending upon the position of the adjustable plate with respect to the dividing partition. Y

Q. A grader including an elevated frame, a fixed plate extending over a portion of the frame, a slidable plate overlappingV the fixed plate and extending beyond the same, the grain being caused to drop in a stream over an edge of the sliding plate, a fan for producing a blast of air to act upon the falling grain, a transverse dividing partition arranged under the sliding plate and having a parallel relation to the edge thereof, and guide means for properly directing the grain falling on opposite sides of the dividing partition, the degree of separation depending upon the position of the sliding ,plate with respect to the dividing partition.

3. A. grader including an elevated frame,A

a fixed plate carried by the frame, a sliding plate mounted upon the frame and projecting beyond the fixed plate, said sliding plate having depending` flanges at the edges thereof, a supporting and guide rod extending under the two plates and passing loosely through the depending flanges of the sliding plate, the grain being adapted to flow in a stream over an edge of the sliding plate, a fan for producing a blast of air to act upon the flowing stream of grain, a transverse dividing partition arranged in a fixed position under the :trame and having a parallel relation to the edge of the sliding plate, and,

guide means for properly directing the' grain'. falling' upon vopposite 'sides of the di.-

viding partition, the degree of separation depending upon the adjustment of the sliding plate.

4. A grader including an elevated frame, a fixed plate upon the frame, a sliding plate overlapping the fixed plate and extending beyond the same, said sliding plate being provided at its edges with depending' flanges having openings therein, a supporting and guide rod extending under the plates and passing through the openings in the flanges of the Sliding plate, locking ineans upon the sliding plate for engagement with the guide rod to hold the plate in an adjusted position, the grain being adapted to flow in a stream over the edge of the sliding plate, a transverse dividing partition arranged in a fixed position below the frame and having a parallel relation to the edge of the sliding plate, and guide means at the bottom of the partition for properly directing the grain falling upon opposite sides thereof, the degree of separation being determined by the position of the sliding plate.

5. A grader including an elevated frame, a plate carried by the frame and adapted t0 have grain discharged over an edge portion thereof in a continuous stream, a fan for producing a blast of air to act upon the falling grain, a transverse dividing partition arranged in a fixed position under the frame and having a parallel relation to the edge of the plate, an inclined guide flange projecting inwardly from the base of the dividing partition for delecting the heavier grain, and a laterally inclined chute extending along the base of the dividing partition on lthe opposite side thereof for receiving an intern'iediate weight of grain, the chatl' and very light weight grain being blown over the top of the chute.

6. A grader including an elevated frame, a plate carried by the frame and adapted to have the grain discharged in a continuous stream over an edge portion thereof, a fan for producing a blast of air to act upon the falling grain, hinge plates pendent from the frame, hangers hingedly connected to the said hinge plates, means for locking the hangers in an adjusted position, a transverse dividing partition carried by the hangers and arranged in a fixed position below the frame, said dividing partition having a parallel relation to the edge of the plate, and guide means carried by opposite sides of the dividing partition for properly directing the grain falling on opposite sides of the said partition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR PETERSON.

Vitnesses:

WM. MUsoH, JOHN PETERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, 30.76. 

